Stand or the like



O. SZYMBER April 25`, 1967 STAND OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 23, 1954 a @d @W April 25, 1967 o. szYMBER STAND OR THE LIKE Filed March 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mb n n m ,EQ w m m mw, .SI W W 5 M M w my W April 25, 1967 o. SZYMBER 3,315,621

STAND OR THE LIKE Filed March 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. BY @Zeig ffy/7725er United States Patent O 3,315,621 STAND GR THE LIKE Oleg Szyrnber, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Sawyers, Inc., Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 353,907 8 Claims. (Cl. 108-34) This invention generally relates to devices characterized by elevated, horizontally supported, planar surfaces such as stands, tables, platforms, etc., and more particularly to certain novel improvements in such devices.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a stand or the like including a pair of folding U-shaped leg units and novel hinged liaps for bracing the leg units in their extended position and holding the same in their folded position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stand or the like including unique extension legs.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a stand or the like including new and improved hinge construction for hingedly connecting aps to walls of the stand body.

These and other objects and Iadvantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification disclosing a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated'in the accompanying drawings.

7In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the stand or the like of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3 but showing 'the legs in their folded position and the liaps in their closed position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion of the stand contained within the circle designated A in FIG. 3;

IFIG. 6 is an enlarged, partially broken away elevation of a leg portion of one of the U-shaped leg units;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to IFIG. 6 but showing the extension leg of the U-shaped leg unit in its extended position;

FIG. 8 is an enlargedA section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a reduced perspective view of the stand of FIG. 1 with the latter turned upside down and having the legs thereof in their folded position and the iiaps thereof in their'closed position; and

FIG. 10 is -a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 showing the ilaps in their open position, one U-shaped leg unit in its extended position and the -other U-shaped leg unit in a partially unfolded position.

Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of the stand of this invention will be seen to include a generally box-like body member generally designated 210. The body includes a rectangular, planar ltop 11, preferably made of Masonite material, and a one-piece band .12 bent in rectangular shape and forming side walls 12a through 12d of the body. Band 12 is preferably formed of suitable plastic material. The single band is bent at right angles by heat bending, and the ends of the `band are secured together by suitable means. As noted in FIG. 2, band 12 includes integrally molded upper and lower ilanges 13 and 14, respectively, defining a continuous groove which receives marginal portions of top 11. The elongated side walls defined by band 12 are slightly peaked at their longitudinal center lines for aesthetic purposes.

The embodiment of the stand shown for purposes of illustration is especially adapted to serve as a portable stand for photographic slide projectors. Side wall 12a supports a panel 15 which includes a slide viewing screen 16 and an on-off switch |17 therefor.

3,3 15,62 l Patented Apr. 25, 1 967 ICC The panel also includes an auxiliary electrical outlet 18. Panel 15 further includes a rocker switch 20 having one off and two on positions, which switch is associated with a projector electrical outlet 21 and a room light electrical outlet 22. An electrical cord (not shown) extends to panel 15 for supplying current to the viewing screen and the various electrical outlets. When the electrical cord of the stand is pluged into a wall outlet, for example, movement of rocker switch 2t# to one on position thereof supplies current to the project-or electrical outlet only, and movement of switch 20 to the other on position thereof supplies current to the room light outlet simultaneously with cutting off current to the projector outlet. The projector stand illustrated also includes a handle 23 swingably connected to side wall 12d of body 10 by suitable brackets 24 and 25.

Panel 15 and its associated components and handle 23 are not described in detail herein as these parts of the projector stand form no part of the present invention. It should be realized that although the invention is shown embodied in the form of a stand for a slide projector, the invention is not t-o be so limited. The features of the present invention, to be hereinafter described and claimed, apply equally to any form of stand, table, platform, or the like as will become apparent from the following specification.

As noted in FIG. 2, an inner wall member 27 has an upper flange 28 secured to the underside of top 11 by suitable fastening means (not shown). Plate 27 has a lower flange 29 which extends toward side wall 12a of the body and is received in a groove formed by upper and lower anges 30 and 31, respectively, which anges are molded integrally with band -12 along the entire length of the same. Plate 27, which is in spaced relation with panel 15, has a length approximately the same as the length of the latter. (Plate 15 and its associated switches and outlets are not illustrated in FIG. 2.) Plate 27 has inturned ends (not shown) which deiine with plate 27, side wall 12a and top 1-1 a compartment for the switches and outlets of panel v15. Lower ilange 29 of plate 27 supports a pair of feet members 32, which feet support the stand under certain conditions as will be explained below.

A plate 34 identical to plate 27 is attached to body 10 adjacent side wall 12e. Plate 34 includes an upper dange 35 secured to the underside of top 11 by suitable fastening means (not shown). Plate 34 also includes a lower ange 36 secured within the groove formed by flanges 30 and 31 of band 12. Flange 36 supports a pair of feet 37.

A pair of generally U-shaped leg units, generally designatcd 39 and 40, are swingably secured to body plates 27 and 34, respectively. As each leg unit is of identical construction, only one unit, viz. leg unit `40, will be described in detail.

As noted in FIGS. 2 and '3, a generally horizontally disposed, U-shaped clip member 42 has outwardly extending side flanges 43 and 44 secured to wall 34 by suitable fasteners 45. Leg unit 40 includes a one-piece member defined by legs 40a connected together by a bowed bight portion 43. Bight portion 43 is rotatably received within U-sh-aped clip 42 thereby swingably mounting leg unit and relatively trouble free.

. F1os. 4 and 9.

Y' adapted for snug engagement As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, ap 48, which may be of one piece molded construction, includes a wall 50 having a continuous ange 51 extending along the edges thereof. Flap 48 includes a pair of notches 52, 53 in one side edge thereof, which notches are adjacent respective opposite ends of the iiap. N otches `52, 53 are adapted to receive legs 40a of the leg units for bracing the latter in their extended position as will be described below.

The construction for hingedly securing aps 48 and 49 to respective side walls 12b and :12d of the body forrn one aspect of 'the present invention, FIG. 5 shows the construction for hingedly securing fiap 48 to vside wall 12b; this construction is identical to the hinge construction for securing ap 49 to side wall 12d.

Referring now to FIG.'5, flanges 30, 31 which extend along the length of wall 12b, dene an elongated rectilinear groove. Flanges I30, 31 have respective inturned lips 30a, 31a thereby dening a long, narrow slot 55. A strip 56 of flexible materiaL'such as polypropylene, having a length substantially the same as the groove extend-V ing along side wall 12b, is doubled upon itself longitudinally thereof andhas its bight portion disposed within the groove. A rod 57, which may be made ofy metal, is disposed within the bight portion of the doubled flexible strip 56. The diameter of rod 57 plus twice the thickness of strip 56 is greater than the width of slot 55 so as to prevent separation of the strip from the groove. Strip 56V and rod 57 are prevented from moving longitudinally of the groove by reason of frictional engagement with the same and by reason of abutting engagement of the ends of rod.57 with side walls 12a and E1l2c.

As noted in FIG. 5, ap 48 has a recessed portion 58 extending along the side edge thereof opposite the edge having the leg receiving notches therein. Marginal portions of strip 56, which are in coextensive contact, and an overlying strip 59 are disposed in recess 58 andV secured therein by a number of fasteners 60.

. This hinge construction permits swinging movementof flap 48 between a closed'position, illustrated in FIG. 4, and an open inclined position illustrated in YFIG. 5. The hinge construction is simpleand inexpensive to construct The polypropylene material used to form strip 56 provides for along life of the hinge. Strip 56 is of course bendable and pliable to permit swinging movement of flap 48. However, the strip has sufiicient resiliency so that-marginal portionsof the same tend to assume their unbent condition thereby to urge and hold iap 48 in its closed position as illustrated in The extension leg associated with each leg of the leg units of the stand of this invention will now be described. One leg 40a and its associated extension leg 46 are killusthat when pad 63 thereof abuts projection 65 the end of theextension leg including, pad 62 projects a short distance from the kcorresponding end of leg 40a Vas noted in FIGS. l, 3 and 6. It should be pointed out that frictional engagement between enlarged portion 46a of the extension leg and enlarged portion 40e of leg 40a is such that the extension leg is snugly retained in the hollow leg but may be readily withdrawn from the hollow leg by grasping the exposed end of the extension leg by hand, for example.

When it is desired to extend or employ the extension legr46, the exposed end of theV latterl is grasped by hand and the extension leg is completely withdrawn from hollow leg 40a. The extension leg is then reversed and enlarged portion 46a is reengaged snugly within enlarged portion 40e of the hollow leg as illustrated in FIG.l 7. The extension leg is easily hidden away when it is not desired to use the same by disengaging enlarged portion 46a from enlarged portion 40e, reversing the extension Y leg, sliding the same within leg 40a until the respective', enlarged portions of the extension leg and hollow leg are in snug engagement with each other. It will be noted that when extension leg 46 is in its extended position YpadY j FIG. 9 shows the stand of this invention with the extension legs in their nested position, the leg units in their Y folded position, and the flaps in their closed position.Y As noted in FIG. 4, when the stand is configured as just described, the small feet 32, 37 (feet 37 only are illustrated Y in FIG. 4) extend slightly below the closed iiaps'andV lower marginal portions of the stand -body so as to support the stand on a surface, such as a table for example. As noted in FIGS. 4 and 9, iiaps 48, 49-overlie the leg por-Vv tions of the U-shaped leg units so as to hold the leg units Y Y in their folded position within the contines ofA body'11V trated 'in FIGS. 6-8; it'will be understood that the leg Y construction illustrated in these three 4figures is typical of the other legs of the stand. Y

Now referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that leg 40a is hollow and has an enlarged portion 40C at its distal end, Extension leg 46 is nested or telescopinglyrenga'ged within hollow leg 40a. The outside diameterk of extension Y leg 46 is slightly less than the inside diameter of leg 40a.

so as to permit easy insertion and removal ofthe extension leg. Extension Vleg 46'includes. an enlarged portion 46a at one end thereof, which enlarged portion'is within enlarged portion 40C of leg 40a.V A pad 62, which may be madeV of hard rubber .or like material, is snugly fitted within the end of Ythe extension leg defined -by enlarged portion 46a. AV

similar but slightly smaller in diameter pad 63 is snugly received within the other end of extension leg 46.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, leg 40a includes an inwardly extending tab or projection 5 65 at the portion thereof joining with bight portion 40b of the U-shaped leg unit. This projection abuts pad 63 of the extension leg and acts as a stop for limiting insertion of the latter within leg 40a. The length of extension leg 46 is such of the stand. As will be apparent'from'FIG. 4, when the.

VU-shaped leg units are folded, one leg unit overlies the other leg unitso as Vto lit within the contines ofV the body. The hinge strips vhingedlyV connecting flaps 48, 49 to thebody tend to maintain the tlaps intheir closed positionY thereby to prevent inadvertent unfolding of the legswhen Y the stand is lifted andV moved about. Y The stand of this invention is set-iup for useV as.fol. f;

lows: First, flaps 48, 49 are opened to their inclined position. The U-shaped leg units 39, 40 are then unfolded Y one at a time until the legs thereof slip into notches 52,'` Y

53 provided in each of aps 48, 49. .This engagement ybetween the notches Vof the ilaps andY the legs of the U- i shaped leg units is Vautornaticrupon unfolding ofthe 'legs because of the tendency of the flaps constantly'to'resurne their closed positions. Accordingly, as soon as the legs v of the U-shaped leg units are brought into alignment with the notches in the flaps, the flaps, under the iniiuenceV of Y theflexible hinge strips, move toward their rclosed position so as to engage theV leg units in the notches of the aps. This engagementlbetwe'en the lnotchesof the yaps and the legs of the leg units of courserbraces and supports the-U-shaped leg units in their extended position. The standrmay now be turned over and used with'th'e extension legsV in their nested position if desired. If'it is de- Y sired to elevate the standby means Vof the extensionlegs,`V V

. the extension legs may be quickly and easilyV connected j with the legs of the leg units in-'an extendedposition as described above.Y Y It will be apparent that the stand or the like ofthis` invention is highly `versatile and of simple andfinexpensive construction. Also, the stand is very durable and trouble free in operation.

While theV invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not to Ybe so limited. On the contrary, the invention is sus-- ceptible ofvarious forrns and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims."

I claim:

1. A stand or the like comprising a generally rectangular planar surface having a side wall depending from each edge thereof, a pair of U-shaped leg units swingably supported from said stand adjacent respective opposite side walls thereof for swinging movement between an extended position and a folded position closely spaced from the underside of said planar surface, the other side walls of the stand each having at its lower edge a hingedly connected flap, which flaps extend for substantially the entire length of the associated side walls, said aps being provided with generally U-shaped notches in the side edges thereof opposite the edges hinged to said other side walls, and said aps being movable between a closed position in substantial parallel relation with said planar surface and an inclined open position, the aps being adapted in their open position to have the notches thereof receive said leg units for bracing the latter in their extended position and the flaps in their closed position being adapted to overlie portions of said leg units -for holding the latter in their folded position, said flaps serving as the sole means for bracing said leg units and for holding the same in their folded position.

2. A stand or the like comprising a box-like body having a top, side walls, and open bottom, a pair of generally rectangular flaps hingedly connected at their side edges to a pair of opposite side walls of said body, respectively, which flaps extend for substantially the length of said opposite side walls and are each provided with a pair of generally U-shaped notches in its side edge opposite said side edge thereof, the notches of each ap being located adjacent respective opposite ends of the flap, said flaps being Swingable between an open inclined position and a closed position in substantial parallel relation with said top, a pair of U-shaped leg units swingably connected to said body adjacent said other pair of opposite side walls thereof, respectively, said leg units each being movable between a folded position within said body and an extended position, the notches at corresponding ends of said aps being adapted to receive the leg portions of said leg units when the latter are in their extended position and when the flaps are in their open position, said flaps being adapted in their closed position to overlie portions of said leg units for holding the latter in their folded position, said flaps serving as the sole means for bracing said leg units and for holding the same in their folded position.

3. The stand or the like according to claim 2 wherein said flaps are connected to said opposite side walls by resilient means which urge the aps to their closed position, whereby upon unfolding of said U-shaped leg units the leg portions of the latter are automatically received in said notches of the flaps.

4. An extension leg unit for a stand or the like comprising, a hollow leg connected at one of its ends to said stand and having an enlarged portion at its other end, an extension leg telescopingly disposed in said hollow leg and having a portion at one end thereof shaped for snug engagement in the enlarged portion of the hollow leg, said extension leg being removable from Said hollow leg thereby to permit said extension leg to be reversed and have said portion of the latter re-engaged with the enlarged portion of the hollow leg with the extension leg in extended relation with the hollow leg.

5. An extension leg unit for a stand or the like comprising, a hollow leg connected at one of its ends to said stand and having its other end enlarged, an extension leg telescopingly disposed in said hollow leg with the end of 5 the extension leg corresponding to said other end of the hollow leg being complementary Shaped for snug engagement in said enlarged end, said extension leg being removable from said hollow leg thereby to permit said extension leg to be reversed and have said end of the latter 10 re-engaged in said enlarged end of the hollow leg with the extension leg in extended relation with the hollow leg.

6. The extension leg unit according to Aclaim 5 wherein said end of the extension leg includes a pad and projects beyond said enlarged end of the hollow leg when both legs are in telescoping engagement thereby to form a supporting surface for the hollow leg.

7. The stand or the like according to claim 1 wherein `each leg portion of each U-shaped leg unit is hollow and includes, an enlarged portion at the distal end of said leg portion, an extension leg telescopingly disposed in said hollow leg with the end of the extension leg corresponding to Said enlarged portion of the hollow leg being complementary shaped for snug engagement in said enlarged portion, said extension leg being removable from said hollow leg thereby to permit extension leg to be reversed and have Said end of the latter re-engaged in said enlarged portion of the hollow leg with the extension leg in extended relation with the hollow leg.

8. The stand assembly according to claim 1 wherein the hinge construction for connecting each flap to its associated side wall comprises, each of said associated side walls being provided with an elongated, rectilinear groove having a mouth of less width than the width of the groove, which mouth extends for the full length of the groove thereby to form a long, narrow slot, a flexible strip doubled upon itself longitudinally thereof and having a thickness of approximately equal to one half the width of Said slot, the bight portion of said strip being disposed in said groove with the longitudinal marginal portions of the strip projecting outwardly through said slot, a rod within said bight portion for preventing separation of the strip from the groove, at least one of said marginal portions being secured to an edge portion of the correspond- 5 ing flap thereby hinging the latter to the associated wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 521,211 6/1894 Fisher 10s-36 1,437,670 12/1922 Mazeeh 108-144 2,503,997 4/1950 BuMiuer 248-1885 2,719,688 10/1955 Seifert 24S-188.5 2,743,978 5/1956 shore 108-36 2,743,979 5/1956 shore 10s-35X V2,746,822 5/1956 cepenharer 248-1885 2,861,855 11/1958 Leehner 108-36 3,009,169 11/1961 Bedner 4-240 3,063,087 11/1962 Themas 16-128 3,087,192 4/1963 Herfzke 16-128 3,092,870 6/1963 Bear 16-128 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. G. O. FIN CH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STAND OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PLANAR SURFACE HAVING A SIDE WALL DEPENDING FROM EACH EDGE THEREOF, A PAIR OF U-SHAPED LEG UNITS SWINGABLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID STAND ADJACENT RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS THEREOF FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN EXTENDED POSITION AND A FOLDED POSITION CLOSELY SPACED FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID PLANAR SURFACE, THE OTHER SIDE WALLS OF THE STRAND EACH HAVING AT ITS LOWER EDGE A HINGEDLY CONNECTED FLAP, WHICH FLAPS EXTENDS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE ASSOCIATED SIDE WALLS, SAID FLAPS BEING PROVIDED WITH GENERALLY U-SHAPED NOTCHES IN THE SIDE EDGES THEREOF OPPOSITE THE EDGES HINGED TO SAID OTHER SIDE WALLS, AND SAID FLAPS BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION IN SUBSTANTIAL PARALLEL RELATION WITH SAID PLANAR SURFACE AND AN INCLINED OPEN POSITION, THE FLAPS BEING ADAPTED IN THEIR OPEN POSITION TO HAVE THE NOTCHES THEREOF RECEIVE SAID LEG UNITS FOR BRACING THE LATTER IN THEIR EXTENDED POSITION AND THE FLAPS IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION BEING ADAPTED TO OVERLIE PORTIONS OF SAID LEG UNITS FOR HOLDING THE LATTER IN THEIR FOLDED POSITION, SAID FLAPS SERVING AS THE SOLE MEANS FOR BRACING SAID LEG UNITS AND FOR HOLDING THE SAME IN THEIR FOLDED POSITION. 